Application of energy-resolving neutron imaging to major-component analyses of materials using four-channel superconducting detector

Vu, TheDang*; 宍戸 寛明*; 相澤 一也; 奥 隆之; 及川 健一; 原田 正英; 小嶋 健児*; 宮嶋 茂之*; 曽山 和彦; 小山 富男*; et al.

IEEJ Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Engineering, 19(11), p.1888 - 1894, 2024/11

https://doi.org/10.1002/tee.24144

We proposed a novel superconducting detector called the current-biased kinetic inductance detector (CB-KID) for constructing a neutron transmission imager. We systematically studied the characteristics of the CB-KID to improve spatial resolution down to 10 m in transmission imaging. By analyzing neutron transmission spectra from 1 meV to 500 keV, we identified copper (Cu) and iron (Fe) as major components in commercial nuts and screws. Additionally, we successfully mapped the distribution of the SmSn compound using selective energy regions of pulsed neutrons and the CB-KID detector. It can reveal transmission spectra across a wide range of energies, from cold-neutron energies (meV) to higher neutron energies (up to 500 keV).

Molecular geochemistry of radium; A key to understanding cation adsorption reaction on clay minerals

山口 瑛子; 栗原 雄一*; 永田 光知郎*; 田中 万也; 桧垣 正吾*; 小林 徹; 谷田 肇; 小原 義之*; 横山 啓一; 矢板 毅; et al.

Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 661, p.317 - 332, 2024/05

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2024.01.120

ラジウム(Ra)は放射性元素であり、放射性廃棄物処理やウラン鉱山周辺の環境問題で重要なため、環境中Ra挙動の解明は急務である。しかし、Raは安定同位体が存在しないため分子レベルの実験が難しく、環境中で重要と考えられる粘土鉱物への吸着反応についても詳細なデータは得られていない。本研究では、広域X線吸収微細構造(EXAFS)法によりRaの分子レベルの情報を得る手法を確立し、さらに第一原理計算を利用することでRaの粘土鉱物への吸着構造を明らかにした。また、同族元素との比較を行い、粘土鉱物への吸着反応の系統的な理解に資する結果を得た。

Orientation mapping of YbSn single crystals based on Bragg-dip analysis using a delay-line superconducting sensor

宍戸 寛明*; Vu, TheDang*; 相澤 一也; 小嶋 健児*; 小山 富男*; 及川 健一; 原田 正英; 奥 隆之; 曽山 和彦; 宮嶋 茂之*; et al.

Journal of Applied Crystallography, 56(4), p.1108 - 1113, 2023/08

https://doi.org/10.1107/S1600576723005204

Recent progress in high-power pulsed neutron sources has stimulated the development of the Bragg dip and Bragg edge analysis methods using a two-dimensional neutron detector with high temporal resolution to resolve the neutron energy by the time-of-flight method. A delay-line current-biased kinetic inductance detector (CB-KID) is a two-dimensional superconducting sensor with a high temporal resolution and multi-hit capability. Here, it is demonstrated that a delay-line CB-KID with a B neutron conversion layer can be applied to high-spatial-resolution neutron transmission imaging and spectroscopy up to 100 eV. Dip structures are observed in the transmission spectra of YbSn single crystals, induced by Bragg diffraction and nuclear resonance absorption. The orientation mapping of YbSn crystals is successfully drawn based on the analysis of observed Bragg dip positions in the transmission spectra.

Weyl-Kondo semimetal behavior in the chiral structure phase of CeRhSn

岩佐 和晃*; Suyama, Kazuya*; 河村 聖子; 中島 健次; Raymond, S.*; Steffens, P.*; Yamada, Akira*; 松田 達磨*; 青木 勇二*; 川崎 郁斗; et al.

Physical Review Materials (Internet), 7(1), p.014201_1 - 014201_11, 2023/01

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevMaterials.7.014201

The spin dynamics, crystalline-electric-field (CEF) level scheme, specific heat, and X-ray photoemission spectra (XPS) of CeRhSn were investigated, which exhibits anomalous semimetal transport in the chiral crystallographic phase. CEF excitations observed at approximately 7 and 39 meV are consistent with the two inequivalent Ce-ion cites in the chiral structure. Because of broader CEF excitations and a strong 4 peak at the Fermi level in the Ce 4 on-resonance spectrum, the hybridized Ce 4 electrons contribute to the semimetal carriers. In addition, the spin fluctuation associated with the Kramers doublet ground state is characterized by the peak located at 0.15 meV. The electronic state involving the spin fluctuation causes the behavior of specific heat below 0.6 K, which is attributed to linear dispersion relations of electrons of the Weyl Kondo semimetal in the chiral-lattice symmetry.

Extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy measurements and molecular dynamics simulations reveal the hydration structure of the radium(II) ion

山口 瑛子; 永田 光知郎*; 小林 恵太; 田中 万也; 小林 徹; 谷田 肇; 下条 晃司郎; 関口 哲弘; 金田 結依; 松田 晶平; et al.

iScience (Internet), 25(8), p.104763_1 - 104763_12, 2022/08

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2022.104763

ラジウム(Ra)は環境汚染やがん治療の観点から注目を集めている元素である。しかし、安定同位体が存在せず扱いが難しいことから、物理化学的に重要な水和構造さえも原子レベルでの観測が行われていない。本研究では、世界で初めて、広域X線吸収微細構造(EXAFS)法を用いたRa水和構造の解明を行った。また、第一原理計算による水和構造解明も実施し、実験ではわからない水分子のダイナミクスの解明を行った。両者の比較も行ったところ、実験と計算の結果はよく一致し、Raの第一水和圏における配位数や酸素との距離を解明した他、アナログ元素であるバリウムに比べて水分子の配位が弱いことがわかった。これらはRaの環境挙動解明やがん治療開発等に資する結果である。

EXAFSによるRaの水和状態と粘土鉱物への吸着状態の解明

山口 瑛子; 永田 光知郎*; 田中 万也; 小林 恵太; 小林 徹; 下条 晃司郎; 谷田 肇; 関口 哲弘; 金田 結依; 松田 晶平; et al.

放射化学, (45), p.28 - 30, 2022/03

ラジウム(Ra)は環境挙動の解明が急務な元素であるが、安定同位体を持たないため分光法の適用が難しく、水和構造でさえも十分に解明されていない。本研究では、Raの広域X線吸収微細構造(EXAFS)を測定し、世界で初めてRaの水和状態及び粘土鉱物への吸着状態を分子レベルで解明した。水和構造について第一原理計算を実施した結果、実験値と計算値は整合した。粘土鉱物において、Raは内圏錯体を形成し、環境中でRaが粘土鉱物に固定されることが示唆された。本稿では特に水和構造の結果について詳細に述べる。

Practical tests of neutron transmission imaging with a superconducting kinetic-inductance sensor

Vu, TheDang; 宍戸 寛明*; 相澤 一也; 小嶋 健児*; 小山 富男*; 及川 健一; 原田 正英; 奥 隆之; 曽山 和彦; 宮嶋 茂之*; et al.

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A, 1006, p.165411_1 - 165411_8, 2021/08

AA2020-0482.pdf:3.12MB

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2021.165411

We found that the sizes of the Gd islands determined from the transmission image correlated strongly with those determined from the SEM image. We demonstrated the CB-KID could be used to identify (1) tiny voids in a thermally sprayed continuous GdO film in and (2) various mosaic morphologies and different eutectic microstructures in Wood's metal samples. The fact that the CB-KID system could be used to identify features of samples with a wide distribution of sizes and thicknesses is promising for real application of the device for imaging samples of interest to material scientists. Operating the CB-KID at higher temperatures appreciably improved the efficiency for simultaneously identifying the X and Y positions of hotspots. We also compared the detection efficiency with the PHITS simulations. We now plan to improve the detection efficiency by increasing the thickness of the B neutron conversion layer

Homogeneity of neutron transmission imaging over a large sensitive area with a four-channel superconducting detector

Vu, TheDang; 宍戸 寛明*; 小嶋 健児*; 小山 富男*; 及川 健一; 原田 正英; 宮嶋 茂之*; 奥 隆之; 曽山 和彦; 相澤 一也; et al.

Superconductor Science and Technology, 34(1), p.015010_1 - 015010_10, 2021/01

https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6668/abc2af

We demonstrated that a four-readout superconducting neutron imaging system shows good spatial heterogeneity and linearity using the delay-line method. We examined the precise pattern of a B-dot-array absorber and found the X-direction pitch (Px) = 250.7 um with a scatter of (Hx)= 5.4 um and the Y-direction pitch (Py)= 249.1 um with a scatter of (Hy)= 3.4 um while the B dot array was fully extended toward the X direction across the detector sensitive area. We consider that this demonstrates detection with good spatial homogeneity and conclude. The transmission-imaging system is suitable for use at pulsed neutron facilities. We also reported a clear transmission image of tiny screws and nuts, and ladybug (insect). We recognize that further efforts to improve the detection efficiency are necessary to make using the detector more practical.

Energy-resolved neutron imaging using a delay line current-biased kinetic-inductance detector

宍戸 寛明*; 西村 和真*; Vu, TheDang*; 小嶋 健児*; 小山 富男*; 及川 健一; 原田 正英; 宮嶋 茂之*; 日高 睦夫*; 奥 隆之; et al.

Journal of Physics; Conference Series, 1590, p.012033_1 - 012033_8, 2020/10

https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1590/1/012033

We demonstrate the development of an energy resolved neutron transmission imaging system via a solid-state superconducting detector, called current-biased kinetic-inductance detector (CB-KID). CB-KIDs comprise X and Y superconducting Nb meanderlines with Nb ground plane and a B conversion layer, which converts a neutron to two charged particles. CB-KID uses the delay-line method, and allows us to reconstruct the two-dimensional neutron transmission image of a test sample with four signal readout lines. We examined the capability of high spatial and energy (wavelength) resolved neutron transmission imaging over the sensor active area of 15 15 mm for various samples, including biological and metal ones. We also demonstrated the capability for the Bragg edge transmission and an energy-resolved neutron image in which stainless-steel specimens were discriminating from other specimens.

Energy-resolved neutron imaging with high spatial resolution using a superconducting delay-line kinetic inductance detector

飯澤 侑貴*; 宍戸 寛明*; 西村 和真*; Vu, TheDang*; 小嶋 健児*; 小山 富男*; 及川 健一; 原田 正英; 宮嶋 茂之*; 日高 睦夫*; et al.

Superconductor Science and Technology, 32(12), p.125009_1 - 125009_8, 2019/12

https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6668/ab4e5c

Neutron imaging is one of the key technologies for non-destructive transmission testing. Recent progress in the development of intensive neutron sources allows us to perform energy-resolved neutron imaging with high spatial resolution. We have been developing a neutron imager aiming at conducting high spatial and temporal resolution imaging based on a delay-line neutron detector, called the current-biased kinetic-inductance detector, with a conversion layer B. The detector allowed us to obtain a neutron transmission image with four signal readout lines. Herein, we expanded the sensor active area, and improved the spatial resolution of the detector. We examined the capability of high spatial resolution neutron imaging over the sensor active area of 15 15 mm for various samples, including biological and metal ones. We also demonstrated an energy-resolved neutron image in which stainless-steel specimens were discriminating of other specimens with the aid of the Bragg edge transmission.